Viewing Single Post From: how would you proceed?

Viewing Single Post From: how would you proceed?
horseless no more	Jun 25 2009, 04:57 AM
Magical Leopluridon Posts: 764 Group: Members Member #68 Joined: January 5, 2007	When I bought Jack I knew he might have some problems with bits in his mouth due to a previous owners being brutal with a bit and proceeding to break 2 of his teeth. So I figured ok ill go out and get on of those side pull things and eventually see if he would be ok with a rubber bit. I have 2 of them so one would probably be ok for him. I kinda had this plan worked out.. get him back into a sembelance of shape doing slow work w/t mostly first on lunge then undersaddle all in the sidepull thing. While working him in the side pull just start playing around with the bit. According to the seller he would cower in hte corner when they would try to put a bit in his mouth. So I wanted to go slow kinda like introducing clippers to a horse who either never had them used or is just scared of them for what ever reason. I left the bit in his feed bucket for him ot play around with for the last few days. Had to pick it up everyday off the floor but that is ok at least I assume it is him tosssing it out of the feed bucket so he is in some contact with it. It has not yet been across the stall but just under feed. So yesterday instead of just plopping it back into the feed bucket I thought lets see how skizo he will get if i try to put it into his mouth. He just stood there didnt open his mouth but didnt run away either. SO I put thumb into bars and tickled his tounge a bit to open his mouth.. He did an I slid the bit in. I figured he would freak a bit but he just stood there and held onto the bit when I let go. I let go thinking he would spit it out. He only let go once i 'tugged' on it a titch. I did this a few more times and the same result. He was such a good boy I didnt want to push luck by attaching it to the lunging cavason I have so i tossed it back into the feed bucket and took him out to work a bit at his own pace. He chose to trot so we trotted he wanted to walk we walked type thing. I just chose the direction.. He is however very left handed.. I have not yet purchased the side pull ( budget isnt there) to use on him. And as it turns out it will be a while until I can hop on him as my 54 inch girth is to small for him so he is very fat... He goes on a diet starting yesterday... So the purche of the side pull can wait. My questions are should I continue just piddling around getting him to take the bit and letting go or should I try to lunge him with the bit attached to cavison or on a bridle? should I put the bit on a bridle and see if his attitude remains the same or wait on that as well? I want him to be comfy with a bit but I dont want to freak him out at the same time if that makes sense... Thinking it might be the bridle attached to the bit that freaks him a bit... I could go with out reins. How would you proceed with this delema.. wanting him to know he will not be hurt but yet making progress at the same time.. I think he made progress yesterday and really want to work off of that but when to take the next step...


how would you proceed? · The Schooling Ring